Airship



April 5 1927.

1,623,865 D. DONCHEFF AIRSHIPy Filed Nov. 30. 1925 Patented pr. 5, i927.

1,623,865 PATENT oFFI'cE.'

f AuifuiTuu STATES DENIETRE DONCHEFF, F EAST ST LOUS, ILLINOS.

AIRSHIP.

Application filed November 30, 1925.

My invent-ion relates to certain novel 1mprovements in air ships of the class known as dirigibles and has for its principal object the production of a device of this character wherein a novel .frame work, known as the back bone or skeleton ofthe device, is incorporated as a part thereof making the body substantially flexible yet rigid enough so as to assume itsl no 1mal shape( while travelling in a longitudinal path, the flexibility of the frame workbeingl sufficient to permit 'flexing of the bedv while under an outside pressure, such as a wind pressure or the like, withoutdistortion or anyYV undue strain on the cooperating partsthereof.

A further object of the invention is the production of a device of kthis character wherein provision is made for permitting flexing of the body under an outside pressure without rupturing, and wherein provision is made to repulse sudden wind pressure thereby'relieving the bodyT or its frame from sudden flexing due to an outside agent o any nature and wherein the body will stand strong destructive winds and air pressures..

A further object of the invention is the production of a device of this character which will be economical in manufacture and durable in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invent-ion consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invent-ion will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing showing tie preferred form of construction and in which,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the invention in its preferred form of construction,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the same,

Fig. 3 is taken substantially on line and Fig. d is a fragmentary detail view showing a spring connection embodied in the invention. y

ln the drawingl similar parts throughout the several views are indicated by similar reference characters. A n

Referring to the drawing, a dirigible is indicated as a whole at and includes an envelope 11 of such material as will best serve the purpose. rlhe envelope is generally supportedby a net work o frame members indicated at 12. These frame a sectional view of the same Bf-B of Fig. 2,

the siZe of the dirigible.

Serial No. 72,350.

menfibers" are carried by what is known in the art as a backbone or skeleton 13 and attachedjthereto by any one of the several methods well known in the art, which iji'iethodsinclude no part of the present invention.

The back bone 13 of the dirigible illustrated, includes beam members 14 each prefably made. in not less than three sections, indicated at 11.', 12 and 13, however, the number of sections depends largely upon Each of the beam sections are connected together in a longitudinal relation by means of springs throughthe medium of substantiallyT triangularly shaped connecting plates 1G. The springs are preferably connected to the plates in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4: which includes bolts 1G passed through eyelets 17 formed in the kends of the springs, and these springs are each wound closely on a suitable arbor and made of such material as will permit expansion and flexing sufficient to oppose an outside pressure and yet not enough to permit any section of the beam to be moved any g away from its longitudinal position which would cause damage to the dirigible. These springs are also made of such material that while they are capable of expanding an flexing, they will be of such strength as to retain ie beam sections in longitudinal relation when not acted upon by an outside agent. he connecting plates above referred toare preferably supported centrally of the envelope by means of spaced connecting links 18 as best illustrated in F- The envelope is also made in sections, there being as many envelope sections as there are beam sections and these sections are indicated at 19. These envelope sections are preferably connected together by flexible sections 2O formed in bellows type to compensate for movement of the envelope proper urged by movement of the beam sections thus preventing rupturing or distortion of the envelope as a whole upon movement of the beam sections. These sections are located in opposite alignment with the springs and as shown. he flexing of these sections 19 is opposed bv spring members 21 supported adfacent the inner sides of the sections by supporting links E22 The bellows type sections are preferably formed in such manner as to provide a continuous outside surface of the envelope.

members are further The back bone beam with respect to each held 1n spaced relation other by similar triangularly shaped connecting plates 16 likewise supported in position by the connecting links 18.

From the foregoing description it is evident that the bellows sections ot' the enveop-e permit lflexing without rupturing or diitorting the body of the dirigible and that the flexing of the envelope sections is opposed by the springs herein mentioned.

By the construction ot a dirigible herein described, it is manifest that the same in liight is able to withstand sudden wind pressures and as such, maneuvering the dirigible in flight will be greatly i'acilitated and less dangerous.

lVhile l have shown and preferred torni ot' my invention, it is to be understood that Various changes andalterations may be larried out in manufacture without departing 'from the spirit of the invention or the scope ot the appended claims.

The invention having been set `forth, what I claim as new and uset'ul is:

l. ln a dirigible air-ship, the frame work comprising sectional members, a centrally disposed beam structure including triangular spaced plates, longitudinal beam rods, said spaced plates supported by connecting links' from 'the body iframe work, said body 'trame work including sectional portions dening the peripherie contours ot said air-ship, coil springs distributively positioned between adjacent ends ot said frame work sections,

described the and an enveloping A dirigible air-ship including sectional frame work members, coil springs connectstress ot said trame work members, centrally structures including triangular spaced plates having longitudinal beam rods therethrough, and coil springs connecting said ment with those ot abutting and adjacent beam structures, substantially as shown.

$3. i dirigible air-ship including a sectional surt'ace trame structure deh'ninfr a continuous streamline posed sectional beam structure comprising triangular spaced plates supported by connecting links from said surface frame structure, longitudinal beam rods passing through and connecting said triangular plates in alignment, coil springs longitudinally disposed between said frame sections and beam sections tor connect-ing them in a normally lined relation and otlering resiliency and elasticity to external stress, and an enveloping element provided with bellowsshaped portions at the junctions oit the disposed springs.

ln testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DEMETRE DONCHEFF.

longitudinal beams in alignbody, a centrally 2disl 

